[Trying to write a new post in the middle of a thunderstorm is not easy. I lost all my words - starting again. Must back up every sentence.]
Walking and food are a couple of my favourite things. I love learning about local food, specialities of the region, and visiting the local fresh food market - every town has one, and I love eating! While researching things to do in Bologna I found Taste Bologna, who run Classic Bologna Food walking tours through the 'quadrilateral', the heart of Bologna. Of course I booked right away.
Our group was an intimate party of an American couple, me and our guide, Alicia.
We began our tour with a late breakfast of coffee and brioche. Then the walking began - first stop was Le Sfogline, where the fresh pasta is made. Tortellini and tortelloni are filled and folded by hand. Two women, working so fast, but making perfect little parcels - lots of experience there. I learnt, during my visit to Bologna, that tortellini is meat filled, and tortelloni has a ricotta cheese filling - and that both are Bolognese. As is tagliatelle - never spaghetti with Bolognese sauce, have to use tagliatelle.
Across Via Belvedere is the local fresh food market, Mercato Delle Erbes, built in a renovated barracks building. Specialty stores and vendors selling vegetables, meat, cheese, wine, and a dining area surrounded by small restaurants. Food heaven - a sensory overload. Would have loved to have tried pizza from the for no, but we are not stopping yet.
Walking and food are a couple of my favourite things. I love learning about local food, specialities of the region, and visiting the local fresh food market - every town has one, and I love eating! While researching things to do in Bologna I found Taste Bologna, who run Classic Bologna Food walking tours through the 'quadrilateral', the heart of Bologna. Of course I booked right away.
Our group was an intimate party of an American couple, me and our guide, Alicia.
We began our tour with a late breakfast of coffee and brioche. Then the walking began - first stop was Le Sfogline, where the fresh pasta is made. Tortellini and tortelloni are filled and folded by hand. Two women, working so fast, but making perfect little parcels - lots of experience there. I learnt, during my visit to Bologna, that tortellini is meat filled, and tortelloni has a ricotta cheese filling - and that both are Bolognese. As is tagliatelle - never spaghetti with Bolognese sauce, have to use tagliatelle.
Across Via Belvedere is the local fresh food market, Mercato Delle Erbes, built in a renovated barracks building. Specialty stores and vendors selling vegetables, meat, cheese, wine, and a dining area surrounded by small restaurants. Food heaven - a sensory overload. Would have loved to have tried pizza from the for no, but we are not stopping yet.